provide the most painters. I may hire a few small crews or even someone who doesn’t have experience with multifamily housing if it feels like a good fit. Finally, we discuss the budget. I look for the best crew I can get and determine what I can afford. There are often negotiations involved but, at the end of the day, I am willing to spend the right amount of money for a qualified team. We’ve made mistakes and had bad experiences with contractors along the way, which is bound to happen among every industry trade profession, and there is always inherit risk. What type of paint products do you prefer and why? A. We use specific types of paint in our residential and commercial projects that offer high-quality finishes. Since we maintain a national account with SherwinWilliams and buy in large quantities, we can take advantage of higher-grade paint and products at lower pricing. Purchasing the paint this way allows us to meet budgets and provide the greatest value to our apartment communities. We ultimately want durable, washable paint that offers good coverage and wearability. This is key because paint that is not high quality requires two or three coats and won’t look good. Our top pick is Sherwin-Williams ProMar 200. It’s a great line of paint for interior walls because it has many benefits, including containing agents that inhibit the growth of mold and mildew on the surface, as well as meets all our requirements for zero-VOC paint products. Many of our renovation and restoration projects are funded through tax credit awards from the state or HUD financing. After each project is complete, inspectors walk and review the site. They often provide feedback, and regularly give compliments about how great the paint looks. At their completion, our properties often look like high-end hotels. -
“ Our multifamily housing units are often occupied, so we need to be especially mindful of that when working around our residents, and be respectful of their lifestyle and schedules.” —STEPHEN CHAPPUIES, AMERICAN PRESERVATION BUILDERS, LLC
Q
I joined Summit in 2009. Since then, our revenue has grown over 400% and I have a solid team around me. Summit is, by far, the best money I’ve invested in my business. - Sean Kennedy, Owner Kennedy Painting St. Louis
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Stephen Chappuies is VP of construction with American Preservation Builders, LLC. He has thirty years of experience in direct management of affordable housing projects, new construction, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and tax credit projects. Mar/Apr 2017 | inPAINT
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